• The third iteration of Opel’s popular Olympia, named in anticipation of the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin
• One of the world’s first mass production cars to feature a unitary body
• A charming 1950s saloon car replete with period details
• Powered by a 1,477-cc four-cylinder engine paired to a column-mounted three-speed shifter

Named in anticipation of the Olympic Games held in the city the following summer, Opel’s Olympia was unveiled at the 1935 Berlin Motor Show. A technical tour de force, it became the first German car with a weight-saving, all-metal unitary body to enter mass production.

The revised OL38 debuted two years later, making 50 per cent more power courtesy of an enlarged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, a unit that remarkably remained on sale until 1960. A third generation arrived in 1950 featuring significantly updated styling, while a column-mounted three-speed shifter was added. Chassis 022203, a two-door saloon first registered on 1 January 1951, is one such example.

Accompanied by a history file, owner’s guide, and boot-fitted spare wheel, this Olympia is finished in blue over a matching interior. Thought to be a largely original example, the next owner may wish to retain the charming patina or seek a fuller restoration.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/mu24/.